Scotland, ye Scotland (Cairn Gorms National Park)

Have you ever noticed how time stops when you are on vacation? It starts as soon as the rush of packing and double checking everything is over, then all of the sudden you have time, time to wait, to sit, to observe.

My favorite moment, when time falls away, waiting at an airport gate, just watching people, bustling about.

Airports are strange, people coming together with one common goal. To head to another place, stepping on a plane to arrive at a faraway place.

As I was waiting for mine to carry me to Scotland, there was an older man sitting not too far from me. He was not alone and was wearing traditional an African hat. As people around me noticed him, they got excited and one by one, went to greet him, to bow in front of him. To shake his hand and a few even dared to ask for pictures to be taken with him. He endured it all with poise and friendliness. I did not recognize him and was quite tempted to ask, who he was. But in the end I preferred to observe rather than intrude.

I arrived in Edinburgh Airport to beautiful sunshine. There was a passenger in kilt waiting to be picked up, which made me smile.

After receiving my rental car, it took all my attention to sit on the right side, shift with my left hand, remember to drive left and to figure out where I was heading. Thankfully the car had navigation and after figuring out how to turn on the voice direction, things became smoother on my way to the first destination.

On the interstate a bona fide Rolls Royce passed me and in the driving seat sat a man with a chauffeur's hat, which made me say aloud: "Like the movies". That in turn made me laugh about myself and eased some of the tension about driving.

The last part of the route took me on very small roads and I almost ended in a ditch, because my mind refused to accept that 2 cars could indeed pass each other. Especially since mine was tiny. But in the end I arrived and was greeted by my lovely hosts.

With a little time to spare, I took a short walk, just to stretch my legs and take in the surroundings.

On the road I had noticed the purple and pink heather covering the mountains around me, and the rolling hills around me where lovely shades of green and brown and pink.

The next day with snail speed on small roads I get to my starting point for the planned hike. Open the car door to put on hiking boots I get swarmed by Midges. But it is August, they are supposed to be gone! I hurry up, putting on my light jacket, lock the car and off I go.

The path is easy to follow and the trees give shade at this part of the hike. I feel good and excited about going. Two groups pass me, but otherwise I have the route to myself. Perfect!

The path is a gentle slope up and not too long after I leave the trees behind, clear sunny skies and rolling hills all around me.

The path kept climbing up and up, becoming steeper too. I started to struggle a bit, but nothing too bad, still determined to keep going.

But at some point it became hard to breath, the exertion and the elevation really kicked my behind. Being on my own it became a mental struggle too. Thoughts running through my head that were not always kind and loving, but rather mean spirited.

But I was not going to stop, eventually though I reached a spot where someone had stacked some stones and close to tears I stopped. I had underestimated how much it would take to do this hike and being mad at myself for not being in better shape did the rest. I decided to take a break. Drank water and tried to gauge how far it still was to reach the top. My GPX was not as exact as I thought it needed to be, but the path was singular and so I followed it to the next perceived bend. Thought I got lost, decided to stop again and eat my protein bar right then and there, accepting defeat in a way. But it was lovely view, sitting amidst the heather, seeing nothing but hills around and really enjoying the vastness around me. The rest and food helped restore my resolve to keep going.

Sure enough the next bend revealed the crossing of roads and off in the distance other hikers. So I kept on. And once I saw the destination in front of me, I could not give up then.

The top of the Sgor Gaoith is a rock formation that dramatically overlooks a Loch.

It was breathtaking and beautiful and I was grateful I had not given up earlier.

Another hiker was kind enough to take a picture of me and it turned out great.

I soaked in the view for a good while, until the Midges got to me and it was time to head back down.

One could think down is much better and whenever I go down hill now I hear my Grandma telling me that it is harder and once I am old enough I will understand. I think I am old enough now, lol.

My knee demands to be more careful than fast, and essentially backtracking the path I realize how long it will take me. My body is quite tired from the hike up and part of me just want to be at the car.

But still I noticed some random small needle trees along the path, that I missed on the way up. Inhaling deeply next to them. It always smells like childhood to me, the resin having such a distinct smell.

All of the sudden I also notice these little birds flying about. I see a bright green caterpillar on my path and some beetle.

And despite this being not exactly the mental state I had imagined I feel good about the day, what I accomplished and what I was able to see...